Procarbazine-oral

Procarbazine is an alkylating chemotherapy drug used along with other chemotherapy drugs to treat Hodgkin's disease (also known as Hodgkin's lymphoma). It works by preventing cancer cells from growing and from creating new cancer cells. Because procarbazine also affects the growth of normal body cells, you will most likely experience side effects while using this drug.Procarbazine also acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. (See also Drug Interactions for cautions regarding use of procarbazine with other drugs and the need to limit the amount of tyramine in your diet.)OTHER This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.This drug may also be used to treat other cancers such as brain tumors.

Before taking procarbazine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: history of alcohol use.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart/blood vessel problems, recent chickenpox, shingles (Herpes zoster), diabetes, seizures, liver disease, kidney disease, severe/frequent headaches, current infection, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), current or past tobacco use, radiation therapy, blood diseases (e.g., bone marrow depression, low platelet counts).Avoid alcoholic beverages or alcohol-containing products/foods (e.g., cough and cold syrups, mouthwash, aftershave, sauces, vinegars) while taking this medication. When procarbazine is combined with alcohol, a severe reaction (disulfiram/alcohol-like reaction) may occur, with symptoms such severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, blurred vision, headache, dizziness, severe tiredness, difficulty breathing, fast/pounding heartbeat, increased sweating, or seizures. Contact your doctor immediately if you drink alcohol or have any of the above symptoms while taking procarbazine.Avoid smoking while using this medication. Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer while using this drug. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely.To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.Before having surgery or emergency treatment, tell the doctor or dentist that you have been receiving this medication.This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised or injured, use caution with sharp objects like safety razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.Wash your hands well and often to prevent the spread of infections. Also, avoid touching your eyes or inside your nose without first washing your hands.Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor, and avoid contact with people who have recently received oral polio vaccine or flu vaccine inhaled through the nose.Caution is advised when using this drug in children because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially the risk of shaking (tremors), loss of consciousness, or seizures.This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm an unborn baby. It is recommended that men and women use 2 effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms and birth control pills) while being treated with this medication and for some time afterward. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss reliable forms of birth control.It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Because this drug may harm a nursing infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

This medication is used along with other chemotherapy drugs to treat Hodgkin's disease (also known as Hodgkin's lymphoma). Procarbazine belongs to a class of drugs known as alkylating agents. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

How to use Procarbazine Capsule

See also Precautions and Drug Interactions sections.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking procarbazine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. It is usually taken for a 2-week period, then stopped for a time and repeated. This is called a treatment cycle. Do not chew or crush the capsules before swallowing. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, body size, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.

To prevent a very serious high blood pressure reaction, it is very important that you follow a special diet recommended by your doctor or dietician to limit your intake of tyramine while you are taking this medicine. Avoid foods and beverages that are high in tyramine, including aged cheeses, dried/aged meats and sausages (such as salami, liverwurst), preserved fish (such as pickled herring), products that contain large amounts of yeast (such as bouillon cubes, powdered soup/gravy, homemade or sourdough bread), fermented foods (such as sauerkraut, kim chee), most soybean products (such as soy sauce, tofu), broad/fava beans, red wine, sherry, tap beers, and vermouth. Consult your doctor or dietician for more details and a complete list of other foods that contain tyramine which you should limit or avoid. See also Side Effects section.

Do not stop taking this medication, even if you have nausea. If you vomit soon after taking a dose, contact your doctor right away for instructions.

Before taking procarbazine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: bleeding/blood problems, current/recent/returning infection, kidney disease, liver disease, radiation treatment.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana.

Avoid alcoholic drinks and products while taking this medication because severe stomach upset/cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, and flushing may occur.

Avoid smoking while using this medication. Smoking increases the risk of developing lung cancer while using this drug. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor right away if you get sunburned or have skin blisters/redness.

Procarbazine can make you more likely to get infections or may worsen any current infections. Avoid contact with people who have infections that may spread to others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). Consult your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.

Do not have immunizations/vaccinations without the consent of your doctor. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially shaking (tremors), loss of consciousness, or seizures.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using procarbazine. Procarbazine may harm an unborn baby. Ask about reliable forms of birth control while using this medication. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.

It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

See also How to Use section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug are: diet pills/appetite suppressants (such as diethylpropion), drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity-ADHD (such as atomoxetine, methylphenidate), apraclonidine, bupropion, buspirone, carbamazepine, cyclobenzaprine, deutetrabenazine, dextromethorphan, methyldopa, tetrabenazine, valbenazine, certain narcotic medications (such as meperidine, methadone, tapentadol), certain supplements (such as tryptophan, tyramine), certain "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (such as rizatriptan, sumatriptan), certain drugs for Parkinson's disease (entacapone, levodopa, tolcapone).

The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/ "ecstasy," St. John's wort, certain antidepressants (including maprotiline, mirtazapine, SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine, tricyclics such as amitriptyline/doxepin), among others. The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of these drugs.

Some products can interact with procarbazine if you take them together, or even if you take them weeks before or after taking procarbazine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take anything in the list of products that may interact with this drug, or any of the products that increase serotonin, within 2 weeks before or after taking procarbazine. Also tell them if you have taken fluoxetine within 5 weeks before starting procarbazine. Ask your doctor how much time to wait between starting or stopping any of these drugs and starting procarbazine.

Taking other MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Do not take any other MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication.

Before using procarbazine, report the use of drugs that may increase the risk of extremely high blood pressure (hypertensive crisis) when combined with procarbazine, including herbal products (such as ephedra/ma huang), allergy and cough-and-cold products (including dextromethorphan, decongestants such as phenylephrine/pseudoephedrine), and stimulants (such as amphetamines, ephedrine, epinephrine, phenylalanine). Procarbazine should not be used with any of these medications. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), and narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone).

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness.

Does Procarbazine Capsule interact with other medications?